University of Wisconsin President Ray Cross on Tuesday asked the Legislature's budget-writing committee to approve a new public authority for the UW System, a "dedicated and stable funding stream" and to reduce the governor's proposed $300 million budget cut over the next two years.

Shortly after he finished his testimony, a handful of protesters burst into the room shouting, "No cuts, no deals." Followed by four Capitol police officers, the protesters marched past the table where Cross was sitting to give testimony before the Joint Committee on Finance.

If Park Bank is liable for not spotting Sujata "Sue" Sachdeva's $34 million embezzlement from Koss Corp. and has to reimburse the company, Koss Chief Executive Michael Koss should also be ordered to personally pay the public company he runs, the bank argues in a new lawsuit.

Grant Thornton, Koss Corp.'s former auditor, should also have to pay a portion of any award that may be ordered, Park Bank argued in the latest twist in a long-running court fight stemming from Sachdeva's massive embezzlement.

"Park Bank denies any and all liability to Koss in this case," the bank said in its action. "Nevertheless, should Park Bank be found liable to Koss (Corp.) and required to pay damages to Koss, in this case, those damages will have been the result of a common liability of Park Bank, Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, thereby entitling Park Bank to (a) contribution from Michael Koss and Grant Thornton."(6)

MVP ballots of Haudricourt, Rosiak

Journal Sentinel baseball writers Tom Haudricourt and Todd Rosiak had the two 2012 National League MVP ballots for the Milwaukee chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Both Haudricourt and Rosiak cast first-place votes for the Brewers’ Ryan Braun.

Here are their respective ballots and why they voted for Braun over the other candidates:

Tom Haudricourt’s NL MVP ballot:

1. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee

2. Buster Posey, San Francisco

3. Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh

4. Yadier Molina, St. Louis

5. Carlos Beltran, St. Louis

6. Adam LaRoche, St. Louis

7. Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta

8. Aramis Ramirez, Milwaukee

9. Chase Headley, San Diego

10. Matt Holliday, St. Louis

I cast my first-place vote for Ryan Braun for two primary reasons: 1. He had the best overall season of any player in the National League, which in my opinion is beyond dispute. 2. The Brewers climbed back into the wild-card race down the stretch, pulling within 1 ½ games of St. Louis at one point, adding to Braun’s MVP candidacy.

Braun is the only player in the NL to finish in the top four in eight primary offensive categories – batting average (.319), home runs (41), RBI (112), on-base percentage (.391), slugging (.595), OPS (.987), runs (108) and total bases (356). He also stole 30 bases, making him the league’s only 40/30 player. In many ways, he had a better season than in 2011, when he was voted the NL MVP.

I look at the argument for Braun for NL MVP the same way I look at the argument for Mike Trout in the AL. He had the best year across the board, and is a better defender and base-stealer than Miguel Cabrera. The difference is that Braun is up against a Triple Crown winner. The only categories San Francisco’s Buster Posey topped Braun were batting average (.336) and OBP (.408). Granted, Posey doesn’t play in a hitter-friendly ballpark as Braun does.

Todd Rosiak’s MVP ballot:

1. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee

2. Buster Posey, San Francisco

3. Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh

4. Yadier Molina, St. Louis

5. Adam LaRoche, Washington

6. Chase Headley, San Diego

7. Jay Bruce, Cincinnati

8. Matt Holliday, St. Louis

9. Aramis Ramirez, Milwaukee

10. David Wright, New York

Ryan Braun got my first-place vote for NL MVP for one simple reason: he had the best offensive year of any player on a team that was in the playoff chase until the final weekend of the season.

The numbers speak for themselves. Braun led the NL in home runs, total bases, runs and OPS, finished second in RBIs, hits and slugging percentage and third in batting average.

Braun also stole 30 bases, making him just the ninth player in major-league history to notch a 40-homer, 30-stolen base season and the first since 2006. He also was an above-average leftfielder.

No doubt, Buster Posey had an outstanding regular season as well, and at the most demanding position – catcher – in the game.

But Braun’s numbers across the board were better, and my ballot reflected that belief.

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